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Home » Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Food Ideas

Published: November 21, 2020 Last Modified: May 25, 2024 This post may contain affiliate links.

Here are some Thanksgiving Food Ideas to serve your family this special holiday.

Images of classic and non-traditional Christmas and Thanksgiving food ideas like roasted turkey, glazed ham, ribeye roast and Alaskan King crabs.

Thanksgiving is a few days away and if you haven't decided yet what to make, here are some classic and non traditional Thanksgiving food ideas to consider.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL & THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

Traditional thanksgiving food ideas

Whole turkey

Roasted Turkey with Lemon Parsley & Garlic with lemon wedges on a platter sitting on a bed of kale. Surrounding platter are pomegranate, apple and turkey sauce.
Roasted Turkey with Lemon Parsley & Garlic is a scrumptious dinner for the holidays.

Fried or Roasted Turkey is a traditional Thanksgiving dinner served with many side dishes. Consider getting a smaller turkey this year if you have a small household.

If you don't mine leftover turkey then get the big one and make different dishes everyday. Don't throw the turkey carcass and make turkey stock. You can use it for soup or other dishes.

Try this scrumptious Roasted Turkey with Lemon Parsley & Garlic made popular by Gordon Ramsay. Butter is spread over and under turkey skin making it crisp on the outside and juicy, moist and flavorful in the inside.

Turkey pot pie

A whole turkey pot pie with a piece sliced.
Creamy, golden, flaky turkey pot pie.

Here's another classic Thanksgiving dinner that your family will love. If you are a household of 2 people, this would be great to serve. Buy turkey breast and you can have this delicious turkey pot pie in no time.

Another great thing about this turkey pot pie recipe, you can buy pre-made crust.

If you are planning to cook a whole turkey, leftover turkey would be great with this turkey pie.

Try this delicious Turkey Pot Pie. It is easy with creamy turkey and vegetable filling.

Turkey gumbo

Turkey gumbo with pieces of turkey, andouille sausage and vegetables in a bowl.

Skip the whole bird and make Turkey Gumbo. Get some turkey breast or legs and make this flavorful stew. But if you are having the whole bird, leftover turkey would be great with this stew.

Cook it on stove-top and make the traditional roux and simmer turkey and holy trinity for 3 hours. Otherwise, if you want something quick and easy and who doesn't mind a different way of making it - cook it in your instant pot.

Turkey legs can tenderize quicker in an instant pot.

If not a big fan of turkey, you can use chicken.

Try this Turkey Gumbo Instant Pot or cook it on stove top.

Traditional ham recipes

Ham and Turkey are both popular dishes to serve during the holidays.

Some of us don't care for turkey. If it is on the table, we might eat it but if we have a choice we would rather have ham.

You can make ham from scratch, that would be my mom but if you like it quick and easy, that would be me, a pre-cooked ham is abundant at this time.

Get yourself a spiral sliced ham or carved ham. Some ham comes with glaze and some don't.

Spiral sliced ham

Whole spiral sliced ham on a platter with a glass of wine and a plate with a sliced of glazed ham.

This fully cooked ham is delicious if glazed and warmed properly. If you like the glaze that came with it then  all you have to do is spread it all over. You can also add some ingredients to the glaze to improve it or you can make your own.

In fact, some people don't even do the warming instruction stated on the label. They leave it in room temperature to thaw and serve it without glaze. That's easy.

Cover ham with foil and if you like add water in the pan to keep it moist.

Try this Spiral Sliced Ham.

Carve ham with pineapple brown sugar glaze

Sliced pineapple carver ham on a platter with a serving fork.

If you like a boneless ham that is easy to carve then get this ham. It is also less fatty and economical for a smaller household.

Again, if you don't like leftover, this is one to get. Some carve ham don't come with glaze. My Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze complement this ham. This glaze adds so much flavor to carve ham, so don't skip it.

It is a smaller ham so it doesn't take long to warm it.

Try this Moist, Juicy, Tender Carve Ham with Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze.

Apricot glazed carve ham with rosemary and brown sugar

Apricot carve ham with rosemary and brown sugar glaze with a sprig of rosemary on a platter. A sauce on the side and some decorative flowers.

Pineapple seems to be the most popular glaze used in ham. If you haven't tried apricot preserved with rosemary and brown sugar, it makes a really good ham glaze.

Try this simple, easy delicious carve ham recipe, Apricot Glazed Carve Ham with Rosemary and Brown Sugar.

Ribeye roast or prime rib

Some people think it is complicated to cook ribeye roast or prime rib. A thermometer is your best friend when cooking ribeye roast.

Make sure to fully thaw ribeye roast or prime rib before cooking. A 6 to 7 pounds frozen roast takes about 2 days to thaw in the fridge.

How to slow cook a ribeye roast in the oven

A cooked ribeye roast on a platter.

Slow cooking a ribeye roast in low temperature yields a moist, juicy and tender steak or roast if cooked properly. Use a thermometer.

This is a simple ribeye roast recipe seasoned with salt and pepper. Prepare your favorite sauce to pair with this delicious steak roast. Bearnaise and mushroom sauce is great with this roast.

Check out How to Slow Cook a Ribeye Roast in the Oven.

Ribeye roast with lemon-pepper and rosemary

A standing bone-in medium rib eye roast on a platter with some kale on a platter.
Standing Bone-in Rib Eye Roast Recipe

Lemon-Pepper and rosemary is a flavorful seasoning for ribeye roast. Again, use a thermometer. When buying a ribeye roast it is best to get it with the bones. It is easier to cook and it keeps your meat moist.

You can request the butcher to detach the bone and tie it with a kitchen twine. When roasting all you need a dripping pan. Roast it standing with a dripping pan underneath.

Check out the recipe, Standing Bone-in Rib Eye Roast Recipe.

Grilled prime rib roast

Grilling prime rib roast and other meat.

If weather permits, try this delicious marinated grilled prime rib roast. Marinate overnight in the fridge to fully penetrate the meat. Otherwise, roast it in the oven. Follow my instructions on How to Slow Cook a Ribeye Roast in the Oven.

Don't grill prime rib under direct heat. It takes longer but meat will be moist, juicy and tender. Don't forget to use a thermometer.

You will enjoy this smoky Grilled Prime Rib Roast.

More meat thanksgiving food ideas

Tenderloin wrapped in bacon stuffed with spinach and feta

Slices of pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon stuffed with spinach and feta cheese on a cutting board and a knife.

Try this easy and delicious crispy Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Spinach and Cheese Filling.

Something different that you can serve your family than the typical turkey and ham. Make sure not to add too much cheese, it can get too rich.

Corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and carrots

Corned beef in a pyrex garnished cabbage, carrots, and potatoes; and a basket of flower on the side.

How can you say "No" to corned beef. This is also easy to make. When you buy this meat, it is packaged with spices. You can add more spices but the prepackaged spices are enough to flavor this delicious corned beef.

Serve Corned Beef with Cabbage, Potatoes and Carrots  this Holiday.

Seafood to Consider this Thanksgiving

Since this is an unusual year, some might not do the traditional turkey, ham or roast. Consider serving some seafood for a change.

People are open to try something different this year.

How to steam a frozen cooked alaskan king crab legs

Three cooked Alaskan king crab legs on a tray with wire rack.
Use a huge tray to steam Jumbo or Colossal crab legs.

When buying jumbo or colossal crab legs steaming would be very hard unless if you have a very big steamer. You can break each part but I don't like serving it that way.

Here's an easy way to thaw and Steam King Crab Legs.

How to Steam Lobster

Two huge lobsters with lemon in a steamer.
Lobster turns bright red when cooked.

If you think it is daunting to steam whole lobster, it's not. We prefer whole lobster than just lobster tail.

No steamer, then use a big pot and place a safe glass bowl in the middle and put lobster above it not immersed in water. Cover pot and simmer. Check out the spices we add to water.

Learn How to Steam Lobster

Seafood creole gumbo

A seafood gumbo with crabs, lobster tail, shrimp, and vegetable in platter. Table setting with napkin, a bowl and some pink flowers.

This Louisiana Seafood Gumbo is a delectable creole seafood dish made with Dungeness crab, lobster, shrimp, andouille sausage, a mixture of vegetables called Holy Trinity in a flavorful roux seasoned with herbs and spices.

A delightful stew that pairs well with rice.

Try this Louisiana Seafood Gumbo this holiday.

Garlic butter dungeness crab

Garlic butter dungeness crab and cover sitting the side with a couple of lemon wedges. Another plate with crab and a bowl on the side.

Garlic Butter Dungeness Crab is a simple seafood dish in rich, savory garlic butter sauce that you can easily prepare at home.

Pair with it with Garlic Noodle and you have one delicious and easy dish for the holidays!

Make this scrumptious Garlic Butter Dungeness Crab and Garlic Noodle at the comfort of your home.

Looking for side dishes

Spinach stuffed portobello mushrooms

Spinach stuffed portobello mushrooms with scallops and cod fish on a bed of cooked spinach.

Roasted garlic cauliflower

Roasted cauliflower topped with bread crumbs, ground pepper, and parmesan.

Bacon shallot green bean casserole

French green bean casserole with bacon and shallot on a decorative pyrex and salmon on the side.
French Green Bean Casserole with Bacon & Shallot.

Roasted asparagus with bearnaise sauce

Roasted asparagus topped with bearnaise sauce on a platter.
Roast asparagus for 10 minutes & topped with Bearnaise sauce.

Stir-fry Bulgogi Eggplant

Pan fried eggplant with carrots, poblano peppers, green onions, and sesame seeds on a platter.
Pan fried eggplant with carrots, poblano peppers, green onion, sesame seeds in savory sauce.

Roasted brussel sprout with garlic and bacon

Pan roasted brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon on a light blue plate.

Sauteed mushrooms in garlic butter and onion

Sauteed mushrooms in garlic butter and onion with a couple of mint leaves for decoration.

Bread recipes for thanksgiving

Zucchini bread

Slices of zucchini bread on a wooden tray with liner and small version bundt size on another plate.

Bread pudding with rum sauce

Two plates of rum banana bread, a bottle of rum and a tea warmr and cup.

Rum banana bread

Two plates of rum banana bread, a bottle of rum and a tea warmr and cup.

Aside from our Thanksgiving Food Ideas, go to the RECIPE MENU and try other dishes.

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Our lucky star my Mom's profile for Today's Delight.
The Real Cook

Welcome to Today's Delight. My mom is a great cook and for many years had a catering business. Due to dementia, she doesn't remember. This food blog was inspired by our mom's cooking. 

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